New RLEA Director takes local, regional approach to training

Thursday June 20, 2019

Regional Law Enforcement Academy, RLEA

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Mike Jennings, former director of CAPCOG’s Regional Law Enforcement Academy from 2007 to 2015, returned to the position on May 20. Jennings, a 48-year veteran of policing, wants to ensure local jurisdictions have their pick of top caliber peace officers to staff their agencies and current law enforcement officers have the ability to learn and adapt to the ever changing job demands in their communities.

“This job is about providing high quality officers for every department throughout the region,” Jennings said. “CAPCOG works with all the agencies in the region to make sure it delivers officers that are tailored to their communities whether that is San Marcos, Llano or Fayette County.”

Before his previous stint at CAPCOG, Jennings served in the Houston Police Department, Jersey Village Police Department, Gillespie County Sheriff’s Office, the Williamson County Sheriff’s Office and on the Texas Jail Commission. He has worked a variety of positions from patrol officer to detective to jail administrator and holds many Texas Commission of Law Enforcement certificates to include Master Peace Officer, ALERRT Trainer, Advanced Instructor, SWAT, and Law Enforcement Fitness Specialist. In November 2015, Jennings became the Dublin Police Chief but returned to the region as a captain for Travis County Precinct 2 Constable.

He is looking forward to drawing from his experiences to shape better community officers. “I enjoy teaching young officers about how law enforcement has advanced over the years,” Jennings said. “I want to make sure cadets and officers evolve with the job, and that community policing is the most important part of their job. Officers have to know their community, their neighbors, because they are there to serve and protect them.”